A group of 16 Warragul Regional College students are “celebrating” the end of their school year in a manner far removed from the more common sun, surf and parties.

They are in Namibia and Botswana, adjoining countries in south-west Africa, on a World Challenge expedition that tests them mentally and physically and explores the limits of their comfort zones.

The students are due to return just before Christmas after spending four weeks assisting with community development projects, experiencing diverse cultures, trekking and taking in some rest and recreation.

But, according to World Challenge expedition organisers, the learning process for the students began well before they set foot on the aeroplane to take them to Africa. It involved them in choosing where they would go, planning the itinerary and raising the money to pay for the trip.

Personal development and real-life experience are major objectives of the program with students often on their first overseas trip and their first travel without families.

World Challenge offers 50 destinations worldwide for the end of year expeditions and work on 275 project sites in developing countries each year.

Last year the teams of students from throughout Australia helped renovate 130 school classrooms, established 25 community vegetable gardens and assisted on more than 20 projects dedicated to the conservation of endangered species.

Published in the Warragul & Drouin Gazette, December 2, 2014